1970 Gould Campbell

[RAYC]

On Thursday 27th October 2011, at The Crusting Pipe, StevieCage and RonnieRoots held a tasting with AHB, jdaw1 and RAYC.

Links:
Review of the evening as a whole
1985 Graham (bottle 1)
1985 Graham (bottle 2)
1985 Fonseca
1983 Offley Boa Vista
1977 Niepoort
1970 Gould Campbell
1998 Dow quinta do Bomfim
Planning and arrangements

[RAYC]

Few notes for this port - I thought a dominant taste of ripe melons at first, refined to a general "tropical flavour", and then (with help from around the table) to "pineapple". Flavoursome port, with pleasing ainseed on the finish. A good advert for the longevity of the 1970 vintage - this isn't going anywhere soon. Eminently drinkable, very nearly great but slight lack of structure let it down ***+ (89)

[AHB]

Deep orange colour with a pale rose rim; 20% opaque. A slight touch of something odd on the nose - TCA perhaps? But there is also sweet fruit and a slight twist of lemon zest. Sweet entry, although a touch unbalanced with sharp acidity in the mid-palate. There are some pleasing floral notes and some soft tannins, but the whole is somehow slightly disjointed. Sweet and sticky finish, full of dry licorice. Too sweet for my taste and lacking in balance, but perfectly drinkable. 5 hours decant. Drunk 27 October 2011. 86/100.

[jdaw1]

GC70: red, 30% opaque. Smooth. Unctuous. Heat mid-palate. Somebody suggested tropical fruit, which I thought a hint of pineapple.